(I apologize if you received this week's Articulation more than once! We had some problems with this issue being blocked and so we're trying again. Thanks for your super-cool patience.) Greetings from Dallas, which is Artella's home base for the rest of April. It's so great to be here with my family, but the dental problems that have been following me for the past few months also decided to accompany on my trip. :-( So I've spent the past few days having more dental work taken care of, but am looking forward to winding this up, feeling much better, and enjoying the rest of my trip. As you'll see, we're having some fun introducing some new segments to Articulation, including weekly tips for artists and writers. Hope you enjoy this week's issue and art. ADDEN-SMART: A Mini Article Thought for the week: it's never too late to make an addendum to a plan. I believe that giving ourselves permission to do this is one of the best things we can do, when it comes to bring dreams into reality. When you're working on a project or goal, adding a mental addendum to tweak your original intention is just plain smart. In fact, when used this way, an adden-dum is actually adden-smart! :-) Puns aside, the reason I'm so emphatic about this is because I think it's one of the most important things that I continue to learn in the adventures of ArtellaLand. So many times, things work out differently than I expect. Outside circumstances may put a project's timeline off course, or my own passions may lead me in new directions. I'm learning to respond to these shifts with patience and permission. Being "addensmart" means that we can be imperfect but still be productive. We can give in to the circumstances but not give up on a project. We can stop and take stock but not submit to getting stuck. Here's a quote of Henry Miller's that I love: "...when you are convinced that all the exits are blocked, either you take to believing in miracles or you stand still like the hummingbird. The miracle is that the honey is always there, right under your nose, only you were too busy searching elsewhere to realize it. The worst is not death but being blind, blind to the fact that everything about life is in the nature of the miraculous." I think that being addensmart means that we can adjust quickly enough to see the miracle that awaits us if we can just have the guts to add a "p.s." to our plan. Just being willing to adjust in this way will open up opportunities for new opportunities for honey that are right before our eyes. MINI-MUSINGS What if you let something you are doing be imperfect? What if you could find more joy or grace in the moment-to-moment process? What addendum can you make in your life that would make everything look brighter? What miracle-honey is right in front of you if you are willing to see it? THIS WEEK'S ART-SPLASH! I invite you to print out this week's art offering, Addendae, as a reminder to be "addensmart" in the coming weeks. (To print only the image itself, right-click the image and click "Print" on the pop-up shortcut menu). This is the link to view Addendae If the above link doesn't work, copy and paste this into your browser: http://www.artellawordsandart.com/artic69.html COME-UNITY INVITATION Yesterday was Administrative Professionals' Day, and so let me shout it from the rooftop – Deb (Artella's Awesome Admin Assistant), I thank you like the flowers thank the sun!!! Bobby (Tech Support Guru), I thank you like the stars thank the sky! Luke, Rebecca, and Zach (Web site interns), I thank you like the birds thank spring!!! This week's Come-Unity Invitation is to make an extra effort to express your appreciation for those who help make your life easier. Being on the receiving end of articulated appreciation can feel like a small miracle. Guess what? Being on the giving end can feel that way, too. As an Articulation community, I invite us to articulate a delicious overflow of heartfelt "thank you" miracles this week. ARTELLA NEWS! 1. Extending Pax Week! Artella's first annual Pax Week, which we declared to counteract United States tax week, has been successful, that we've decided to extend it for another week, until April 30. Here's how Pax Week works: with any purchase, you get a second of the same item to share with a friend for free. Go to the weekly specials for all the details. The only exception is purchases made in The Shoppes of Artella, but Pax Week includes a special arrangement for the Shoppes. For our extended Pax Week, we forgo our regular commission and give the entire selling price to the artist. Until midnight on April 30, upon confirming your order you'll be given instructions on how to "share the wealth" with your friends! We're having a great time with this special and hope you will, too! 2. Our Newest Poetry Winners! winners of the Third Weekly Poetry contest are: 4th Place - Micaela Allen, author of "Colors of Love", wins a 1 month Artella Membership! 3rd Place - Mimi Sun, author of "Fate's Game", wins the above PLUS the Artella eBook, ExerSIGHS: A Self-Esteem Workout for Writers and Artists! 2nd Place - Kimberlee Titus, author of "After Seven", wins all of the above PLUS The Artella eBook, Those Who CAN, Teach!: Uncovering the Workshops Inside of You, and guaranteed publication in an e-Artella issue! 1st Place - Sean Pinto, author of "Upon Stronger Bridges", wins all of the above PLUS featured listing on our upcoming poet's page, and a brand new copy of Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory. There were so many wonderful poems entered...thanks to all who submitted Remember, the next deadline is coming up Friday (tomorrow) at midnight. Details are here. Within the next few weeks, we will also be posting the poems of all winning entries and let you know where to go on the site to check them out! Also, remember that the deadline for our first Monthly "Poetic Idol" contest is April 29. The entry fee is $5.00 for three poems, and it offers great exposure as well as monetary awards. Details at www.artellawordsandart.com/prizes.html. 3. Artella 6 coming soon! I found out the printing and binding were completed this morning! Those are always magic words to my ears! I am planning to receive, and send off, half the issues while I am in Dallas, and half when I return to New York, completing the entire mailing to everyone within the next 2 weeks or so, so stay tuned!! If you haven't ordered your copy yet, be sure to order here. 4. Fun, fun, fun! Did you know that the new Artella Game Room includes both interactive jigsaw puzzles and a delightful assortment of word games? Thanks to Bobby, there is a new word puzzle in the game room every single week (now for a total of 5, including the latest and greatest Articulation Cryptogram), so you'll never run out of fun at the Wonderful World of Artella. Go play the games at www.artellawordsandart.com/games.html. 5. Get published in Artella! We are sending out a new "Projects Seeking Partners" list TOMORROW, which includes a list of all of all current submissions that need either words or art to accompany them. The list highlights selections relevant to the next print issue theme, "Theatre & Cinema", the deadline for which has been extended to May 10. To be sure that you receive the newest list, follow the instructions on the Submit page. SHOPPES' CORNER Our featured artist this week is Jody HagamanShields, whose stylin', whimsical Domino Babe pins just can't help but make you smile. Be sure to take a look! Twenty-two new products have been put on sale this week, so be sure to go window shopping on the shoppe home page and click on the shoppes with "sale" signs in the windows, or visit our Specials page for a list of all our current sales. My favorite bargain...Tejae Hall's spunky sterling silver charms are 60% off! So many styles to choose from, including a charm completely personalized for you! I'd also like to mention we've added an Artist Index from the Shoppes home page so go take a look and find your favorites! ART TIP OF THE WEEK! If you are working with paints or inks, but don't want to stain your fingers, coat your fingertips with a layer of Diamond Glaze (a dimensional adhesive by Judikins) and let it dry before you start. The dried Diamond Glaze creates a film that protects your fingers as you work...as if you're wearing gloves but without the itchy, sticky latex. When you're ready to clean up, just wash the Diamond Glaze off and your hands will be color-free. WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK! If you feel stuck while you're writing, take a break from the piece you're writing (story, essay, article, etc.) and simply type an email to a friend about your piece. Start something like this, "Dear Jane, I am just getting to the part in the story where we see the ex-husband and I'm feeling a bit stuck. I'm not sure how to convey how much they were really in love and sometimes I wonder if I even understand his character at all. Maybe I could....." and see if writing an email about the piece can get you rejuiced. THEN, when you feel the energy flowing, close the email (or send it to yourself, for posterity) and then go back to the work at hand. Sending you a honey-scented post-it note, on which "It's never too late!" is written in non-erasable ink! ~Camelotingly, Marney Artella Founder/Editor Keep It Coming!To ensure delivery of this newsletter, take a minute now and create a contact in your email address book for Articulation@ArtellaWordsAndArt.com. 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